"Today Our attention is directed to one of the most common of them (abuses), one of the most difficult to eradicate, and the existence of which is sometimes to be deplored in places where everything else is deserving of the highest praise; the beauty and sumptuousness of the temple, the splendor and the accurate performance of the ceremonies, the attendance of the clergy, the gravity and piety of the officiating ministers. Such is the abuse affecting sacred chant and music."- St. Pius X, Pope

6 comments:

Anonymous
said...

This conscience bit is hyperbole.

Is Obama forcing upstanding, believing Catholics at gunpoint to contracept or abort their children? No. They are choosing to do it. End of story.

Health plans have provisions that lots of subscribers would never use, like glasses or contact lenses. Just because you choose not to wear contacts or will never wear glasses doesn't mean your premium will be lower. Insurance companies, especially American ones, will squeeze as much money from you as they can, regardless.

The American bishops are whining because they say Catholic institutions would be forced to pay for things that are prohibited by their religion. No. The insurance companies that underwrite these health plans would be indemnifying those premium paying subscribers who choose such things despite their religion. Obama isn't compelling people to abort their children or get an IUD to remain on the plan.

The U.S. government does not exist to be the enforcer of the Catholic Church. Obama leads a democratic country and adopts policies that will win him elections. Abortion and contraception are proposed for these mandated health plans because lots of voters, lots of Catholic voters make use of them. You should be angry at them, not Barack.

Isn’t it true that Catholics believe that if one aborts their children, contracepts or fornicates, that person runs the risk of burning in hell for all eternity? So if the American bishops are so concerned, how come I don’t hear them saying what their church teaches on these matters? I’d actually have some respect for them! Alas, I think they know they’d lose a lot of congregants and more importantly, the Sunday collections will start to dry up. This is all just about money, appearances and hypocrisy.

When Ted Kennedy died, there were all kinds of bishops, priests as well as a cardinal prancing around his casket in a Catholic cathedral even though he steadfastly and publicly promoted those same things that these American bishops are having a hissy fit over today. He even sent a letter to the pope explaining his convictions and didn’t recant anything. What did Benny say? Where was his conscience? How come that priest on the video wasn’t outside the cathedral screaming about THAT instead of BSing years later in front of a captive, sympathetic audience about something that will actually be good for a lot of people who wouldn’t otherwise have access to healthcare?

American bishops and priests, either be honest with Catholics about the good, the bad and the ugly in their religion and its rules or shut the f*** up. Tell them they’ll rot in hell or don’t give them church funerals like the one you gave for Teddy boy. There will be less Catholics in name only and less money, true; but you’ll also have fewer worries about Catholics on the pill. Best of all, YOUR consciences will be clear. The government can’t interfere with that. You guys used to burn people at the stake, remember? Figurative fire and brimstone isn’t as bad. Get it straight. Catholics aren't aborting their kids and using birth control because of what Obama is doing but because of what YOU aren't.

Is Obama forcing upstanding, believing Catholics at gunpoint to contracept or abort their children? No. They are choosing to do it. End of story.

YES, THERE ARE CATHOLICS WHO PICK AND CHOOSE IN A CAFETERIA LINE AS TO WHAT THEY BELIEVE OR PRACTICE AND WHAT THEY DON'T. SO WHAT? SIN AND DISOBEDIENCE HAS BEEN WITH US FROM THE BEGINNING. YOUR POINT IS NOT GERMANE.

Health plans have provisions that lots of subscribers would never use, like glasses or contact lenses. Just because you choose not to wear contacts or will never wear glasses doesn't mean your premium will be lower. Insurance companies, especially American ones, will squeeze as much money from you as they can, regardless.

The American bishops are whining because they say Catholic institutions would be forced to pay for things that are prohibited by their religion. No. The insurance companies that underwrite these health plans would be indemnifying those premium paying subscribers who choose such things despite their religion. Obama isn't compelling people to abort their children or get an IUD to remain on the plan.

HE HAS DONE ANYTHING TO PROMOTE ABORTION THAT HE CAN FROM HIS FIRST DAY AS PRESIDENT. THIS IS FACT. YOU AGAIN PLAY WITH THE FACTS. THE U.S. GOVERNMENT HAS NEVER MANDATED BEFORE THAT ANY EMPLOYER MUST PROVIDE SPECIFIC PRIVATE HEALTH CARE BENEFITS OTHER THAN BASIC EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS. THIS IN ITSELF SEEMS TO ME TO BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

The U.S. government does not exist to be the enforcer of the Catholic Church. Obama leads a democratic country and adopts policies that will win him elections. Abortion and contraception are proposed for these mandated health plans because lots of voters, lots of Catholic voters make use of them. You should be angry at them, not Barack.

IRRELEVANT WHAT SOME CATHOLICS DO. THE U.S. GOVERNMENT DOES NOT EXIST TO DEMAND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH OR ITS INSTITUTIONS DO ANYTHING. THIS IS THE POINT WHICH YOU CONVENIENTLY MISS.

Isn’t it true that Catholics believe that if one aborts their children, contracepts or fornicates, that person runs the risk of burning in hell for all eternity? So if the American bishops are so concerned, how come I don’t hear them saying what their church teaches on these matters? I’d actually have some respect for them! Alas, I think they know they’d lose a lot of congregants and more importantly, the Sunday collections will start to dry up. This is all just about money, appearances and hypocrisy.

YES, DYING IN MORTAL SIN CAN LEAD ONE TO HELL. THAT IS THE FREE CHOICE THAT GOD GIVES. THE FACT THAT THE PRIESTS AND BISHOPS HAVE NOT TAUGHT ON THIS FOR DECADES, POSSIBLY AFRAID THAT THE COLLECTION PLATE WOULD DRY UP IS INDEED SAD AND A SCANDAL.

When Ted Kennedy died, there were all kinds of bishops, priests as well as a cardinal prancing around his casket in a Catholic cathedral even though he steadfastly and publicly promoted those same things that these American bishops are having a hissy fit over today. He even sent a letter to the pope explaining his convictions and didn’t recant anything. What did Benny say? Where was his conscience? How come that priest on the video wasn’t outside the cathedral screaming about THAT instead of BSing years later in front of a captive, sympathetic audience about something that will actually be good for a lot of people who wouldn’t otherwise have access to healthcare?

TED KENNEDY'S PUBLIC CANONISATION WAS A SCANDAL. IF HE REPENTED FOR HIS LIFELONG WORK AGAINST THE CATHOLIC TEACHING HE WAS CERTAINLY ENTITLE TO A CATHOLIC FUNERAL BUT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PRIVATE FOR THE FAMILY AND CERTAINLY NOT TELEVISED. IF YOU'VE READ THIS BLOG OR THOSE BY ANY OTHER CATHOLICS WHO TRY TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND LIVE THE FAITH DESPITE OUR OWN INDIVIDUAL SINFULNESS, YOU WOULD KNOW OUR OPINION ON THE KENNEDY FUNERAL SCANDAL.

American bishops and priests, either be honest with Catholics about the good, the bad and the ugly in their religion and its rules or shut the f*** up. Tell them they’ll rot in hell or don’t give them church funerals like the one you gave for Teddy boy. There will be less Catholics in name only and less money, true; but you’ll also have fewer worries about Catholics on the pill.

YES INDEED, BRING IT ON. EVEN POPE BENEDICT HIMSELF HAS SPOKEN AND WRITTEN OF THE "SMALLER CHURCH."

Best of all, YOUR consciences will be clear. The government can’t interfere with that. You guys used to burn people at the stake, remember? Figurative fire and brimstone isn’t as bad. Get it straight. Catholics aren't aborting their kids and using birth control because of what Obama is doing but because of what YOU aren't.

BURN PEOPLE AT THE STAKE? YES, WE EVEN BURNED SOME OF OUR OWN...EVIL BISHOPS HAVE DONE BAD THINGS THROUGHOUT HISTORY...ST. JOAN OF ARC WAS DECLARED A HERETIC BY EVIL BISHOPS. BUT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH DID NOT BURN THE WITCHES AT SALEM, THOSE WERE GOOD AMERICANS. THANK YOU FOR REMINDING US THAT SOME CATHOLICS, MANY CATHOLICS DON'T BEHAVE.

There are two issues here. Anonymous is confusing them. I congratulate you Vox on dealing with them in a firm but most charitable manner.

The issue that is being debated is not the sinfulness nor luke-warm (at times at best) teaching of morality by priests and bishops. THE issue here is whether or not the State is supreme; whether or not the State can determine the doctrine, mode of behaiour of a religion. The answer is a clear: NO. Obama, whether he is aware of it or not is promoting a conception of a fascist State. If the State becomes the arbitrator and determinant of morality (c.f. the writings of Mussolini). Obama is a deceptive liar. He has lied to a number of the bishops (including Cardinal Dolan). He is a spiritual thug.

WRT abortion, let me make it explicit. Suppose your government forced you to pay for "inconvenient" people under the care of "care takers" to by killed by them. You're not doing the killing, so you have no right to complain, right? Shouldn't "care takers" have the right to complain, right? Of course not. It's evil whether or not you're forced to pay, but it's especially evil if you're forcing others to co-operate with your evil. Fortunately, there are laws of religious freedom, but they will only matter if they are enforced.

WRT sinfulness, name one person you have met that has kept the 10 commandments flawlessly since baptism. Man's sin does not discredit the 10 commandments, it reinforces the need of the 10 commandments.

WRT nonabortive contraception (NB: all chemical contraceptives are abortive) are an issue of natural law, not religion. Humanae Vitae outlines some of the consequences which are bearing fruit now. It it the root of most issues that are destroying societies around the world. We have to oppose it. As stated, it is natural law. Hindus such as Gandhi oppose it as do hostile to religion atheists such as Freud. Both saw its evil. Science and demographics also prove it. Regardless of the mandate, it must be opposed.

Last point, why are you so angry? American bishops are only fighting against changing the status quo. Nothing is being taken away from you (assuming you're American).

The Bergoglian Heresies

click for link

Rosicagate

Click above for link

St. Pius X

"...the great movement of apostasy being organized in every country for the establishment of a One-World Church which shall have neither dogmas, nor hierarchy, neither discipline for the mind, nor curb for the passions, and which, under the pretext of freedom and human dignity, would bring back to the world (if such a Church could overcome) the reign of legalized cunning and force, and the oppression of the weak, and of all those who toil and suffer. [...] Indeed, the true friends of the people are neither revolutionaries, nor innovators: they are traditionalists."